Here are the lawmakers calling for gun control in the wake of Florida shooting

The deadly shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school is prompting renewed calls for more gun control.
USA TODAY

Several lawmakers called for gun control on Wednesday, in the wake of a shooting that left at least 17 people dead at a Florida high school.

Following reports of the shooting, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., took to the Senate floor to criticize congressional inaction on gun issues. Congress has long stalled on such issues, even in the face of multiple deadly shootings year after year.

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Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel says there are multiple casualties in a shooting at a high school in South Florida. (Feb. 14)
AP

Murphy — who represents Newtown, Conn., the site of a shooting that left 20 children and six adults dead — has long been a gun control advocate.

"I'm coming to the floor to talk about something else, but let me just note once again for my colleagues: this happens nowhere else other than the United States of America," he said. "It only happens here not because of coincidence, not because of bad luck, but as a consequence of our inaction. We are responsible for a level of mass atrocity that happens in this country with zero parallel anywhere else."

As for Florida's own senators, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., shared his condolences, but did not specifically call for gun control.

Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.

But Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., was among the many other voices who said that something needed to be done. He called the shooting "bad for Florida and the country.

"We ought to say enough is enough," he said on CNN. "The question is once you get into the investigation: How did the shooter obtain the weapon? Was it a high-caliber weapon? Was it obtained lawfully? And, if so, that ought to have people start thinking about such things as background checks on the purchase of a gun and the question of an assault rifle if in fact one was used.”

Other lawmakers have also called for gun control.

Our schools should be a place where students and teachers feel safe. How many more senseless tragedies does this country have to endure until Congress acts? https://t.co/QU5AE6LVzR

Another terrible school shooting, this time in Florida. At least 18 other school shootings have already happened this year. My heart breaks for those children and their parents. How many more victims until we decide gun violence is a national problem? https://t.co/QbLjIbTQEO

Republicans should pray for forgiveness, for not only their complacency and dereliction of duty, but in contrition for the men, women and children we continue to lay to rest because of senseless gun violence and the cowardly inaction from Congress.